Understanding oxygen doping effects on boron nitride catalysis for efficient oxidative desulfurization of fuel oil

Hexagonal boron nitride (BN) has gained increasing attention in catalysis, such as in the aerobic oxidative desulfurization (ODS) of fuel oils. Heteroatom doping has found can enhance catalytic performance, but understanding different doping modes remains a challenge for designing active catalysts. This research investigates the effect of various oxygen doping modes on the catalytic performance of BN in aerobic ODS of fuel oils. An oxygen-doped BN (BNO) is achieved through strategic modifications, and the study thoroughly examines the effects of different oxygen-doping modes. Detailed results reveal that lattice oxygen doping enhances catalytic activity, while edge hydroxylation oxygen has a negligible effect. Catalytic experiments show the superior performance of BNO, effectively removing aromatic sulfur compounds, achieving 98.4% sulfur removal, under mild conditions. This comprehensive study provides valuable insights into the effect of oxygen doping on BN catalysts and elucidates the underlying mechanisms governing their enhanced catalytic performance in ODS.